Save Article

Obama and Democracy

Updated June 6, 2009 12:01 a.m. ET

A pleasant surprise in President Obama's Thursday speech on the Middle East was his rhetorical shift on democracy. His audience at Cairo University applauded his commitment "to governments that reflect the will of the people" and "freedom to live as you choose." So why is his Administration cutting support for democracy promotion?

Start with Egypt, where U.S. support for democracy programs was reduced to $20 million, from $50 million, in the budget Congress adopted this spring. Funding for independent democracy...